Fantasy Football 2019: Top 5 Running Back Handcuffs

If you are looking for security to protect your investment of a top running back, here are the top five handcuffs in fantasy football this season.

The running back position is not as secure as the other skill positions. Running backs have a smaller window of playing time due to a lot of factors. The biggest factor is injury. This is why drafting a handcuff for your star rusher is important for your fantasy football success.

The top tier of running backs on most sites list just four names, Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara. The second tier has some good names that good finish in the top tier.

I can’t blame you if you use your first pick on a running back. The position is shallow and it’s an important position for fantasy success. But there comes a lot of risk in doing so. Should that player go down with an injury, who are your other options?

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Drafting your top running back’s backup may cost a pick you’d otherwise use on wide receiver depth, a starting tight end or quarterback, having a handcuff is helping yourself in a worst-case scenario.

So, which backup running backs should you draft this season?

Latavius Murray, NO

Murray is more of a compliment than a backup in New Orleans. With Mark Ingram in Baltimore, Kamara gets a full share of the rushing commitment adding to his pass-catching abilities.

Even with Kamara getting a full load, I still think Murray will see more playing time than the others on the list.

Outside of Michael Thomas and Kamara, Drew Brees doesn’t have that many weapons so they will be rushing the ball a bit more. Murray will average five carries a game and that will get close to 20 if Kamara misses any time.

If that happens, Murray is a borderline RB1 in most leagues.

Darrell Henderson, LAR

Todd Gurley‘s health is one of the big questions heading into this fantasy football season. He’s been dealing with a knee injury since the end of last season. While he may be fine entering training camp, that may not be the case in Week 5.

If Gurley misses any time, Henderson is a must-have. We saw what C.J. Anderson did in the final two weeks of the regular season, so Henderson could see the same level of success.

The downside is how expensive Henderson is going to cost on draft day. If you decide to draft Gurley, you’ll have to spend a sixth or seventh-round pick on Henderson. Drafting the Rams RB duo that early may not be worth it in standard leagues.

Kareem Hunt/Duke Johnson, CLE

Hunt is suspended for the first eight games. If Nick Chubb gets hurt early, Johnson becomes the Browns top running back. He’s effective in the passing game and can be in the running game. Johnson has a career 4.3 yards per carry.

If Chubb is hurt after Week 8, Hunt immediately takes over rushing duties. Johnson will be still used in the passing game, but with the weapons Baker Mayfield has, it may not be as much as season’s past.

Hunt is worth a stash in deeper leagues until his suspension is over. He may also see playing time if he’s traded to a team in need of a running back.

Carlos Hyde, KC

Andy Reid has a penchant for having a great running game. His time with the Eagles and Chiefs so far prove that to be right. With Hunt now in Cleveland, Damien Williams is Kansas City’s starting running back.

In the final three games of last season, Williams recorded 203 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries. He also caught all 14 of his targets for 119 yards and another touchdown. But just how reliable is he going to be this season?

He’s ranked as the No. 13 running back, so RB3 in 12-team leagues. Should he get hurt or struggle, Hyde will be waiting in the wings. Hyde may not be the same running back as he was in San Francisco, but he can still rack up the yards.

The offense will progress through Patrick Mahomes arm so either running back will have success.

Drafting a running back early could be rewarding but comes with a lot of risk. They get injured more than wide receivers and coaches are quick to pull them from a game for a lot of reasons. Whether it’s stashing a backup or finding one-off the waiver wire, adding a backup could lead to success in the final weeks. Just ask the owners who added Williams or Justin Jackson last year.

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